NIA chargesheets PAK diplomat

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday filed a chargesheet against Amir ZubairSiddiqui, a Pakistan diplomat, and two other “co-conspirators” for circulating Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) to destabilise India’s economy and waging a war against the country.

The Hindu reported that Special Public Prosecutor C.S.S Pillai filed the charge sheet before Judge P. Cheenthoorpandian of the Special Court for NIA cases in Poonamallee.

“After a thorough probe, the agency has come to the conclusion that Amir Zubai Siddique, a Pakistani diplomat working in Sri Lanka, engaged people to indulge in espionage and terror activities in India. He has been declared persona non-grata and cited as absconding,” the report quoted Pillai as saying.

“The major plot of the suspects, including Siddiqui operating from Sri Lankan soil, was unearthed when one Thamim Ansari was arrested by the ‘Q’ Branch CID police in 2012. Investigations revealed that Siddiqui and others recruited Ansari, belonging to Thanjavur, between 2008 and 2012. They engaged him in the business of exporting onions and potatoes. After Ansari suffered losses in the business, the handlers promised to help him out of the crisis,” the report said.

Ansari was instructed to pose as a rich businessman and befriend personnel of the Armed forces, the report added. His assignment was to obtain maps/photographs of vital installations. He was arrested in Tiruchi in 2012 when he was going to hand over sensitive information to Siddiqui in Sri Lanka.

Similarly, Arun Selvarajan, a Sri Lankan national, was employed by Siddiqui for spying activities in India. He received funds from the conspirators to carry out espionage activities. He was arrested in September 2014, the report said.